AUCKLAND, New Zealand, December 12. SWIMMING New Zealand began its selection meet for the World Championships held in neighboring Australia in March as the Absolute Insurance 2006 World Championships Trials commenced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The initial day of long course action witnessed one swimmer, Dean Kent, claimed his eighth straight 400 IM national title, while another swimmer, Michael Jack, pocketed his first career crown.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 Freestyle Finals<\/b>
\nWest Auckland Aquatics' Michael Jack snared the first title of the meet with a 1:51.83 in the men's 200 free, while Neptune's Andrew McMillan lodged a second-place time of 1:52.15. Moss Burmester of North Short Swimming closed out the top three in 1:52.16.<\/p>\n
Jack's win proved to be an upset victory as the crown not only was the first of the meet, it was the first in Jack's career.<\/p>\n
Women's 400 IM Finals<\/b>
\n16-year-old Cara Baker of Kiwi West Aquatics finished ahead of a pair of Capital Swim Club teammates to touch in 4:56.87 for the win. Tash Hind (4:57.55) and Kelsey Moffatt (5:01.78) placed second and third, respectively.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 Breaststroke Finals<\/b>
\nNorth Shore's Glenn Snyders came up just short of the national record in the 200 breast with a dominant time of 2:16.05. The closest competitor came in the form of AquaGym's Richard Adamson, who clocked a second-place 2:25.82. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Amini Fonua of Roskill Swimming took third in 2:26.58.<\/p>\n
Men's 400 IM Finals<\/b>
\nNorth Shore's Dean Kent won his eighth consecutive 400 IM national title with a top-time of 4:20.31. That effort far surpassed Waterhole Swimming's Daniel Ryan, who hit the wall in 4:31.33 for second place. Raumati Swimming's Brett Newall placed third in 4:39.54.<\/p>\n
"My taper was only a week while it was three weeks for the Commonwealth Games," Kent said. "I would have liked to have gone faster but probably went out a bit hard in the backstroke. I know I have time now to get things right for Melbourne."<\/p>\n
Men's 100 Backstroke Semi-Finals<\/b>
\nCameron Gibson of North Shore Swimming notched the top qualifying time in the 100 back semis with a 56.55. Laser Mt. Eden Swimming's Kurt Bassett took second in 58.07, while Watties Swim City Aquatics' John Gatfield completed the top-three qualifiers in 59.43.<\/p>\n
Women's 50 Butterfly Semi-Finals<\/b>
\nNorth Shore's Samantha Richter and Jasi's Georgina Toomey tallied the top times of the 50 fly semis with matching 28.94s, while 15-year-old Grace Marriner-Duncan snared third in 29.29.<\/p>\n
Women's 50 Breaststroke Semi-Finals<\/b>
\nZoe Baker sprinted to the best time of the semi-final round in the 50 breast by touching in 31.37. AquaGym's Annabelle Carey recorded the second-best time of 32.97, while West Auckland Aquatics' Sarah Vettoretti took third in 33.17.<\/p>\n
"I knew with the qualifying performance under my belt I could relax and have fun," Baker said. "I would certainly like to go faster tomorrow in the final and I think I can."<\/p>\n
Men's 100 Butterfly Semi-Finals<\/b>
\nNorth Shore teammates Corney Swanepoel (53.65) and Moss Burmester (54.04) posted the top two times of the 100 fly semis, while Primo Sundevil Matt Thomas snagged the third-quickest time in 55.66.<\/p>\n
Women's 100 Backstroke Semi-Finals<\/b>
\nNorth Shore also went 1-2 in the women's 100 back semis as Hannah McLean (1:02.51) and Melissa Ingram (1:03.43) swept the top-two qualifying spots. 16-year-old Natalie Wiegersma of the Spirit of the Southland clocked the third-fastest time of 1:04.11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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